Pune, July 27, 2026 – A trainee doctor at Sassoon General Hospital in Pune was allegedly assaulted by a patient’s relative on Saturday after the medical professional intervened when the relative attempted to record the ongoing emergency treatment on his mobile phone. The incident, which occurred on Saturday around 10:45 AM, has led to a case being registered by the Bundgarden Police against the accused identified as Dhanraj Krishna Pillay, a resident of Ghorpade Gaon.
According to the complaint filed by the trainee doctor, the altercation took place while the doctor was administering Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to a patient who had been admitted to the hospital for treatment. The relative allegedly began recording the critical procedure, prompting the trainee doctor to request him to stop. This request escalated into a commotion within the medical ward, with the accused reportedly resorting to verbal abuse and physical assault against the doctor. Hospital staff intervened to restrain the accused and subsequently alerted the police.
The Bundgarden Police have registered a case against Pillay under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those pertaining to obstructing a public servant in the discharge of official duties, and under the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act. Assistant Police Inspector Arjun Mohite is overseeing the further investigation into the matter.
This incident highlights a recurring issue of violence against medical professionals in healthcare settings. Sassoon General Hospital, a major medical facility in Pune, has been the site of several similar assaults in recent years. In November 2020, three men were arrested for allegedly assaulting a doctor and a security guard at the hospital after being asked to remove their footwear before entering the casualty ward, an incident that also involved vandalism. Prior to that, in October 2015, a resident doctor was attacked by a police constable, leading to a strike by around 450 doctors from Sassoon hospital and BJ Medical College. In August 2019, a car driver allegedly attacked a resident medical officer over a parking dispute. More recently, in November 2022, a doctor was assaulted by four relatives of a patient who had died due to meningitis, with the relatives holding the doctor responsible for the death.
The consistent occurrence of such attacks underscores the challenges faced by healthcare workers and raises concerns about their safety while performing their duties. Medical associations and unions have often voiced their concerns and demanded stricter measures to protect doctors and hospital staff from such violence. The Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, enacted to provide protection to medical personnel, aims to deter such incidents and ensure a safe working environment. However, the repeated instances suggest that its implementation and enforcement require continuous reinforcement.
The Chenab Times News Desk